Emergency units were called out to a possible hazardous materials incident in Carthage Monday evening.

Responders were dispatched to the Carthage Police Department on US Highway 15-501 around 6:30 pm after a resident brought a package to the police department that the person had reportedly received in the mail that was found to contain an unknown white substance.

A short time later additional emergency units were also dispatched to a home at the corner of Stage Road and US Highway 15-501 where the package was at before being brought to the police department.

To assist local officials with the incident the NC State Bureau of Investigation was called and a Regional Hazardous Materials Team was dispatched from Fayetteville.

Emergency units were finally able to clear the scene just before 11:30 pm after it was determined that the substance posed no danger to the public when it was learned that it was baby powder in the box. According to officials after contacting the person that sent the package it was learned that a female that is incarcerated sent the package in the belief it would be a “funny joke”.

Responding to this incident were units with Carthage Fire & Rescue, Moore County EMS, Moore County Public Safety, Carthage Police Department, Moore County Sheriff’s Department, the NC State Bureau of Investigation and a Regional Hazardous Materials Team based with the Fayetteville Fire Department.

This is still a developing story we will update readers with additional details as they become available.